package com.toy.core.security.context;


import java.io.Serializable;

import com.toy.core.security.Authentication;


/**
 * Interface defining the minimum security information associated with the
 * current thread of execution.
 *
 * <p>
 * The security context is stored in a {@link SecurityContextHolder}.
 * </p>
 *
 * @author Ben Alex
 * @version $Id: SecurityContext.java 1784 2007-02-24 21:00:24Z luke_t $
 */
public interface SecurityContext extends Serializable {
    //~ Methods ========================================================================================================

    /**
     * Obtains the currently authenticated principal, or an authentication request token.
     *
     * @return the <code>Authentication</code> or <code>null</code> if no authentication information is available
     */
    Authentication getAuthentication();

    /**
     * Changes the currently authenticated principal, or removes the authentication information.
     *
     * @param authentication the new <code>Authentication</code> token, or <code>null</code> if no further
     *        authentication information should be stored
     */
    void setAuthentication(Authentication authentication);
}

